Airplane toy amusement device for a child



Dec. 16, 1958 E. c. PORTER AIRPLANE TOY AMUSEMENT DEVICE FOR A CHILDFiled June 14, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FILG.8.

INVENTOR 22 ERNEST C. PORTER BY ATTORNEY Dec. 16, 1958 E. c. PORTER2,864,613

AIRPLANE TOY AMUSEMENT DEVICE-FOR A CHILD Filed June 14, 1957 Y I 4Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENT OR a} C .PORTER Wow ATTORNEY Dec. 16, 1958 E. c.PORTER 2,864,613

AIRPLANE TOY AMUSEMENT DEVICE FOR A CHILD Filed June 14, 1957 4Sheets-Sheet 3 ERNEST C PORTER ATTORNEY Dec. 16, 1958 E. c. PORTER2,864,613

AIRPLANE TOY AMUSEMENT DEVICE FOR A CHILD I Filed June 14, 1957 4Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent AIRPLANE TOY AMUSEMENT DEVICE FOR ACHILD Emest C. Porter, Atascadero, Calif.

Application June 14, 1957, Serial No. 665,717

2 Claims. (Cl. 272-1) This invention relates to an airplane toyamusement device and more particularly to a hollow airplane-likestructure which may be carried by the child on his shoulders and withhis hands with his head extending into the hollow structure so that hecan see through at least an open front thereof and run about and playand simulate the operation of an airplane.

A further object of this invention is to provide an airplane toyamusement device which may be made to simulate substantially any type ofairplane, including both the propeller driven type and a rocket or jetdriven type.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide an airplane toyamusement device for use by a child, wherein the device may be providedwith simulated airplane instruments that are actually operative toindicate climb or dive as well as for turn or bank to thus increase thepleasure of the child operator.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide an airplane toyamusement device carried on the shoulders and about the head of thechild, which, in the propeller type of airplane, a propeller is providedwhich is operable under the pressure of wind created by the child whilerunning, and in addition may also be provided with a noise-making deviceunder the control of the child operator and operable in cooperation withthe rotation of the propeller.

Briefly, this airplane toy amusement device is constructed in simulationof an airplane with its bottom open and the side walls of the fuselagerecessed so as to fit comfortably on the shoulders of the child, a pairof grip handles being provided forwardly of the recessed sides of thefuselage for comfortable manipulation by the child, the sides and frontof the fuselage being open and overlooking simulated wings and simulatedfuselage nose, and in the propeller type, being provided with apropeller that may spin freely in wind pressure and may cooperate with anoise maker under the control of the child for simulating airplane soundeffects.

With the above and related objects in view, this invention consists inthe details of construction and combination of parts, as will be morefully understood from the following description when read in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is an upper perspective View of one form of the invention in use.

Fig. 2 is a similar upper perspective view of another form of thisinvention in use.

Fig. 3 is a lower perspective view of the form of invention shown inFig. 1. 1

Fig. 4 is a typical plan view of the left side developed blank of lowwing form.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of developed blank of the left side of a wingsection.

Fig. 6 is a plan view piece.

, Fig. 7 is an elevation of the stabilizer and elevator of a fuselagewindow reinforcing tail section.

Patented Dec. 16, 1958 Fig. 8 shows an elevation of a strut section.

Fig. 9 is an exploded perspective view of an assembly of the parts.

Fig. 10 is a schematic perspective detail of the triggering mechanismcooperating with the propeller for providing noise effects.

- stapled in position.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary perspective view of the fuselage cabin showingoptional operable instruments.

Fig. 12 is a front elevational view of an instrument panel.

Fig. 13 is a perspective sectional view partly in elevation of operableinstruments.

Figs. 14, 15 and 16 are fragmentary cross-sectional views through theclimb and dive indicator, showing the same in level, climb, and divepositions.

Figs. 17 and 18 are schematic top plan and side elevational views of thelow-winged monoplane form shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

Figs. 19 and 20 are similar views of the low-winged monoplane opencockpit type shown in Fig. 2.

Figs. 21 and 22 are similar views of a high-wing monoplane type.

Figs. 23 and 24 are similar views of a jet type of airplane.

Figs. 25 and 26 are similar views of a rocket type of airplane.

Fig. 27 is a plan view of the developed blank of the left hand side ofthe low wing monoplane open cockpit type shown in Figs. 19 and 20.

There is shown at 10 one form of the airplane toy amusement device ofthis invention, this form 10 representing a low winged monoplane cabintype of airplane. This device 10 is in the form of a hollowairplane-like structure and includes a fuselage 12 consisting ofopposite side walls 14 which merge together at their rear into a tail16. Extending from the rear end of the side 14 to opposite sides of thetail 16 is the stabilizer section 18 from which extends the elevatorportions 20, the elevator portions 20 extending on each side of the tailor vertical stabilizer 16.

Secured to the sides 14 by means of strut sections 22 are wing portions24 each including a simulated aileron 26.

Extending forwardly from the fuselage provided by the sides 14 is thenose 28, it being observed from Fig. 4 that the nose 28 blank isintegral with the blank forming the side sections 14, and that when thetwo blanks are placed together and the portions folded over along thefold lines provided as shown, the nose 28 is thereby provided. The sides14 and wings 24 are each provided with strut holes 30 and 37 forreceiving the securing tabs 34 of the struts 22 therein, the same beingtaped or Similarly, the side 14 is provided with wing holes 36 and 38for receiving wing tabs 42 and 44 to be secured therein in a similarmanner.

The cabin sides 14 are each provided with side window openings 46, andreinforcing bars 48 may be provided about these window openings foradditional strength if desired, as shown in Fig. 6. Extending above thewindow 46 is the roof 50 being spaced above the window opening 46 andabove the nose 28 thus providing an open windshield 52 providing forwardand sideways lines of .struts, stabilizer, elevator and so forth aremade of very inexpensive sheet material, such as paper board orcardboard having sufficient stiffness to maintain its shape when foldedand secured in position. The two opposite sides and various parts willbe assembled together as obvious from Fig. 9, the nose portions 28 beingtelescoped together just as the roof portions 50 are telescoped togetherand then secured together by stapling, taping, or any similarconventional method. When securing the nose portions 28 together, afrusto-pyramid block 60 is provided to go inside of the nose portion anda nose plate 62 is secured over the outside thereof, the block 60 andplate 62 both being apertured at 64 and 66 to provide a bearing shaftwaythrough which extends a propeller shaft 68 on which a propeller blade 70may spin freely under wind pressure in operation. Suitable washers 72and 74 are provided on opposite sides of the block 60 and a cotter pin76 holds the end of the propeller shaft 68 imposition.

A reinforcing bar 78 extends across the rear bottom portion of the nose28 and is secured thereto and has depending ferrules 80 secured thereonby screws 82 and on the ferrules 80 there are secured handle grips 84 inspaced apart relationship beneath the bottom of the fuselage at the rearof the nose portion.

The propeller 70 includes a propeller hub 86 provided with one or moreradial ribs 88 for cooperation with a resilient but somewhat stiffclicker finger 90 mounted on the forward end of a connecting shaft 92having a bearing through a tab 94 of nose plate 62, the connecting shaft92 extending through a suitable opening in one side of the nose portion28, and being pivoted to one end of a trigger 96 pivoted at 98 andlocated so as to be closely adjacent one of the hand grips 84 so thatwhen the childs hand is holding the hand grip 84, his finger may operatethe trigger 96 as desired. A spring 100 is mounted within the nose andsecured to the trigger 96 so as to bias the trigger to pull the clicker90 to the non-operative position, so that no noise will be producedthereby unless the child is maintaining tension on the trigger 96.

An instrument panel 102 is provided within the fuselage extending acrossthe bottom of the open windshield 52 and across the top of the rear ofthe nose portion 28 so as to be in the line of vision of the childoperator 54 when he looks through the open windshield 52. Mounted on andvisible through the instrument panel 102 are two simulated airplaneinstruments 104 and 106, both these simulated instruments being actuallyoperable, the airplane instrument 104 being a climb and dive instrument,as shown in more details in Figs. 14, 15, and 16, consisting of a ball108 provided with appropriate indicia 110 and mounted in a wire frame112 and provided with a weight 114 at the bottom thereof causing theball 108 to pivot axially about its horizontal axis 116 of frame 112 andthus have its indicia 110 cooperate with the pointers 118 for indicatingdegrees of dive or climb.

The turn and bank indicator instrument 106 includes an indicia plate 120at the bottom of which is journaled an arrow pointer 122 having a weight124 at the bottom end thereof and anindicating pointer 125 at the topthereof so that as the indicia plate 120 is tilted one side or the otherthrough tilting of the toy amusement device, the indicator 122 willshift one side or the other to indicate the amount of turn or bank as at126.

In operation, assembled in a manner obvious from the foregoingdescription, the device is used by a child by grasping the hand grips 84and placing the hollow portion of the fuselage over his head so that hecan see through the front or side windows, the sides 14 having recessededges 130 so spaced from the handle grips 84 that the fuselage will restwith the recessed edges 130 on the shoulder of the child operator whilehis hand grasps the handle grips 84. He may then run about, and as hedoes so, wind pressure. created by his movement will cause his airplanepropeller 72 to rotate, and if the child pulls the trigger 96, theclicker 90 will be in the path of rotation of the ribs 88 on the hub ofthe propeller 70 and 4 make a noise simulating an airplane satisfactoryto a child.

Being made of light-weight material such as cardboard, plastic or thelike, the entire device 10 is very light in weight but the exercisestimulated by the use thereof while satisfactory to a child, can be toomuch for an adult.

The instruments 104 and 106 will move under the stimulation of theweight 114 and 124 due to the action of gravity, so that as the childcurves and changes direction, the instruments will actually indicate thecurves in one direction or the other, and likewise will indicate dive orclimb as the child elevates or depresses the nose of the toy.

As shown, simulated gun barrels 132 may be provided on each side of thenose or in any other suitable location. As shown, the same principles ofthis invention may be applied in making up any other type of airplane.Thus, in Figs. 2, l9, and 20, a low-winged monoplane 134 is shownprovided with an open cockpit 136, a windshield of transparent plastic138 may be provided in place of an open windshield so as to carry outthe simulation.

Obviously, plastic Windshields may be provided in each and every type ofairplane herein illustrated or made within the scope of this invention.Inasmuch as the other parts of the open cockpit plane 134 aresubstantially identical with those of the cabin type of plane justdescribed, no further description thereof is necessary.

In Figs. 21 and 22, a high-wing monoplane cabin type of airplane toyamusement device 140 is shown provided with a high wing 142 extendingover the roof of the fuselage 144, both airplane devices 134 and 140each being provided with a spinning propeller 70 just as in thelowwinged monoplane device shown at 10.

In Figs. 23 and 24, a jet type of airplane is shown at being providedwith partly swept-back wings 152 and swept-back stabilizer 154.

In Figs. 25 and 26, a rocket type of airplane amusement device i shownat with sharply swept-back wings 162, and stabilizer 164. The jet typeat 150 and rocket type at 160 obviously omit the spinning propeller andnoise maker that goes with it, but otherwise it is identical inconstruction with the previously described forms, having the same handgrips 84 and the shoulder supported recessed edges 130 of the side wallsof the fuselage.

In Fig. 27 there is shown a plan view of a developed blank of theleft-hand side of the open cockpit plane shown at 134 in Figs. 2, 19 and20. This side blank being provided with folding nose portions 172 andstabilizer 171 and is provided with suitable slots for receiving thetabs from struts, wings and stabilizer portions in the same manner aspreviously described.

Although this invention has been described in considerable detail, suchdescription is intended as being illustrative rather than limiting,since the invention may be variously embodied, and the scope of theinvention is to be determined as claimed.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, whatis claimed is:

1. An airplane amusement device for a child comprising a hollowairplane-like structure having a fuselage comprising side walls mergingtogether at their rear into a tail, an airplane nose extending forwardlyfrom and secured to said side walls, airplane wing means extending fromsaid fuselage, a propeller shaft extending forwardly from said nose, asimulated airplane propeller rotatably mounted on said shaft forrotation by'wind pressure, an instrument panel extending between saidside walls at the junction of said side walls and said nose, simulatedinstruments mounted on said instrument panel, one of said panelinstruments being a dive and climb indicator comprising a weighted ballpivoted on a transverse axis means fixed relative to said panel, climband dive indicia on said ball, pointer means fixed relative to saidpanel cooperating with said climb and dive indicia on said ball as saidpanel tilts fore and aft, the other of said panel instruments being aturn and bank indicator comprising a plate fixed relative to said panel,turn and bank indicia on said plate and a bottom weighted pointerjournaled relative to said plate and having a top pointer endcooperating with said turn and bank indicia as said panel tiltssideways, handle grips extending downwardly from the rear bottom of saidnose, curvilinear recesses in the bottom edges of each said side wallspaced rearwardly from said handle grips whereby said handle grips maybe grasped by the hands of a child While the wall edges of thecurvilinear recesses support the fuselage on the shoulders of the childwith the head of the child extending into the hollow fuselage, the frontof said fuselage at least being transparent for vision therethrough, andsound producing means under the control of the child operator comprisinga trigger lever spring biased to non-operating position pivoted throughthe bottom of the nose to a location adjacent one handle grip, aconnecting shaft pivoted at one end to said trigger lever and providedat the other end with a noise making element extendable into the path ofa rotating part of said propeller to make a noise while the propeller isrotating, whereby the child carries said device on his shoulders abouthis head by grasping the handle grips and simulates the action of anairplane sighting through the front of the fuselage above the instrumentpanel with the instruments also in his line of vision, and may operatethe trigger lever to produce an airplane simulating noise in cooperationwith the propeller spinning under wind pressure.

2. An airplane toy amusement device for a child comprising a hollowairplane-like structure having a fuselage comprising side walls mergingtogether at their rear, a tail extending therefrom, an airplane noseextending forwardly from and secured to said side walls, a roofsupported above said side walls and said nose, airplane wing meansextending from said fuselage, a propeller shaft extending forwardly fromsaid nose, a simulated airplane propeller rotatably mounted on saidshaft for rotation by wind pressure, an instrument panel extendingbetween said side walls at the junction of said side walls and saidnose, simulated operative dive and climb and turn and bank instrumentsmounted on said instrument panel,

spaced apart handle grips extending downwardly from the bottom of saidnose, curvilinear recesses in the bot-' tom edges of each said side wallspaced rearwardl from said handle grips whereby said handle grips may begrasped by the hands of a child while the wall edges of the curvilinearrecesses support the fuselage on the shoulders of the child with thehead of the child extending into the hollow fuselage, the front andsides of said fuselage beneath said roof and above said nose be-' ingopen for vision therethrough, and sound producing means under thecontrol of the child operator comprising a trigger lever spring biasedto non-operating position pivoted through the bottom of the nose to alocation adjacent one handle grip, a connecting shaft pivoted at one endto said trigger lever and provided at the other end with noise makingelement extendable into the path of a rotating part of said propeller tomake a noise while the propeller is rotating, whereby the child carriessaid device on hisshoulders about his head by grasping the handle gripsand simulates the action of an airplane sighting, through the front ofthe fuselage above the instrument panel, with the instruments also inhis line of vision, and may operate the trigger lever to produce anairplane simulatng noise in cooperation with the propeller I spinningunder wind pressure.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,728,245 Merritt Sept. 17, 1929 2,258,531 Baldwin ..1 Oct.,7, 19412,497,527 Bacon Feb, 14, 1950 2,707,102 Wendt Apr. 26, 1955 2,738,974Vincent Mar. 20, 1956

